"I Wanna Be Bad"
A woman with wavy, blond hair and a low-cut black top faces toward the camera, leaning slight to the left and look up-right. The background consists of a yellow, blue, and white floral pattern. At the top of the image in red text is "WILLA FORD". Below, in black typeface, reads "I Wanna Be Bad".
Single by Willa Ford featuring Royce da 5'9"
from the album Willa Was Here
ReleasedApril 24, 2001 (2001-04-24)
Studio
Genre
Length3:04
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Josh Schwartz
  • Brian Kierulf
Willa Ford singles chronology
"I Wanna Be Bad"
(2001)		 "Did Ya' Understand That"
(2001)
Royce da 5'9" singles chronology
"You Can't Touch Me"
(2000)		 "I Wanna Be Bad"
(2001)		 "Rock City"
(2002)
Music video
"I Wanna Be Bad" on YouTube

"I Wanna Be Bad" is a song by American singer Willa Ford from her first studio album, Willa Was Here (2001). The song features a guest appearance from rapper Royce da 5'9". Ford wrote it alongside Brian Kierulf and Josh Schwartz, who both handled the production, when her record label, MCA Records, told her to tone down her music. Ford refused, deciding to create a track with a rebellious message. After Jason Flom of Lava Records heard the song, he signed Ford to the label and included it on Willa Was Here. Lava and Atlantic Records released the song as Ford's debut single and the lead one from the album on April 24, 2001. A pop and dance-pop track, it has Ford explaining that she wants to be a "bad girl" because her partner makes bad behavior look so good. The lyrics contain messages of rebellion and being oneself against the influences of other people.

Several music critics compared "I Wanna Be Bad" to songs by fellow American singer Britney Spears, whom Ford was trying not to imitate with her music. Immediately picked up by American radio stations, it reached number 22 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and entered the top 20 on three other Billboard rankings. The song also charted in Australia, where it peaked at number 52. Ford has not had another hit single, making her a one-hit wonder. Ford promoted the song in several ways, including making a music video directed by Chris Applebaum, where she causes havoc at a club and on the streets. Because of the song's themes of nonconformity and comfort with oneself, the LGBTQ+ community has embraced it and turned Ford into an icon.

Background and composition

Before recording "I Wanna Be Bad", Willa Ford, who was signed to MCA Records at the time, had already recorded nearly a full album's worth of songs.[2] At that point, MCA Records requested her to make more "wholesome" compositions. Ford, 21 years old at the time, did not appreciate being told what to do with her music, so she decided to write a song depicting herself as a bad person, going against the label's wishes.[3][4] Her associates, Brian Kierulf and Josh Schwartz, assisted with the songwriting. When Ford presented the new track to her label, the staff liked what she had done, but they wanted a less explicit pre-chorus. However, when Lava Records president Jason Flom and Atlantic Records director Andy Shane heard the song, they decided to sign Ford to the labels and release the song, appreciating that she wrote her own material.[2][4] Ford recorded the track at The Dojo in Jackson, New Jersey, and Battery Studios in New York City, and she arranged all the vocals. Kierulf plays all the instruments while Schwartz provides additional guitar, and both men produced the track.[5]

Musically, "I Wanna Be Bad" is a pop and dance-pop song.[1][4][6] The track's lyrics are, according to Ford, "about a girl coming into her own and becoming a woman", and she considers it her song of freedom.[7] The opening lyrics are autotuned, with Ford saying that she wants to be bad. Her love interest prefers to behave badly, so she decides to act rebellious along with him since he does it well.[1] The single version of the song features Royce da 5'9", while the album version has Ford singing alone, with the rap replaced by more vocoder lines; both versions of the track are three minutes and four seconds long.[8] In a 2017 interview with Billboard, Ford stated that although she did not dislike popstars such as Britney Spears and Jessica Simpson, she was not this type of person and wanted to let people know this fact with "I Wanna Be Bad".[3]

Release and promotion

At night, a police car with active red, white, and blue lights sits on the left. Next to the driver's side door is Willa Ford holding a doughnut and talking with a black police officer holding a pink pastry box.
A screenshot from the song's music video. In this scene, Ford (center right) flirts with police officers while eating a doughnut. She eventually puts the officers in the backseat and commandeers their cruiser.[1]

On April 24, 2001, Atlantic and Lava Records serviced "I Wanna Be Bad" to American contemporary hit radio (CHR) and rhythmic contemporary radio stations, as Ford wanted her debut single to "push the envelope".[9][10] Radio stations enthusiastically picked up the song, appreciating the divergence from the generic mainstream pop music sound of the time, and it was the third-most-added track at CHR radio for the week of April 27.[2][11] The song was then released as a CD single in the United States on May 22, 2001, and a maxi-CD was released the same year.[12][13] In Australia, the track was distributed as a CD single on August 20, 2001.[14] The song was later included as the opening track on Ford's debut studio album, Willa Was Here, which was issued in the US on July 17, 2001.[15][16] Most attention to the song came from backlash after Ford ended her relationship with Backstreet Boys member Nick Carter, resulting in the creation of many websites criticizing her and the breakup. Although Ford has said that these websites initially upset her, she used the situation to her advantage to help draw attention to the song and her career.[2][7]

A music video directed by Chris Applebaum was made to promote the song. In the video, Ford portrays an ill-mannered woman who flirts with a DJ at a club, seduces police officers while eating doughnuts, and steals their cruiser while they sit in the backseat.[1][17] Interspersed throughout the video are clips of Ford performing with her backup dancers and Royce da 5'9"; near the end of the video, she performs alongside two pole dancers as bubbles float around her.[18] The video received significant airplay on American television program Total Request Live (TRL).[1][19] In the booklet for Willa Was Here, there is a hyperlink that leads to the video.[5] In February 2001, Ford called the video "off the hook",[10] but retrospectively, she said that the video was one of her reasons for distancing herself from interviews, explaining that people misinterpreted the theme and believed she was "'the hot chick,' 'the badass' or 'the bitch'" rather than a rebellious woman.[3] Ford also promoted the song by performing it live at the Pantene Pro-Voice 2001 concert, and it was used in an advertising campaign for Six Flags amusement park.[1][20]

Reception and legacy

Chuck Taylor of Billboard compared "I Wanna Be Bad" to works by fellow pop singer Britney Spears, citing the "cutesy sing-along chorus" and the ribald lyrical content.[6] Christopher Rosa, writing for Glamour, called the song a "stomping pop anthem" that made other suggestive songs such as Spears' "I'm a Slave 4 U" and Christina Aguilera's "Dirrty" seem modest.[4] AllMusic reviewer Stephen Thomas Erlewine called the song "catchy" with "post-Britney, Max Martin flair" and noted how it is the only track on the album that is not "startlingly crass".[15] JEDowney from Earbuddy wrote that the song was one of the three better tracks from the album and compared it to a disappointing Spears song.[21] Due to the song's message of rebellion, "I Wanna Be Bad" has resounded with some of the LGBTQ+ community and turned Ford into an icon.[3][11] Ford said that she believed the community responded because her song is honest in its "I'm trying to figure out who I am" message, giving people the confidence to go out at night and be themselves without acknowledging other people's judgements.[3]

Commercial performance

"I Wanna Be Bad" debuted at number 92 on the US Billboard Hot 100 on June 9, 2001.[22] It entered the top 40 of the chart on July 7, 2001, and rose to a peak of number 22 four weeks later, on August 4.[23][24] The song spent a total of 20 weeks on the Hot 100 and ranked in at number 84 on the chart's year-end edition.[24][25] It was a top-five hit on the Billboard Maxi-Singles Sales chart, peaking at number four in September 2001, and entered the top 20 on the Billboard Mainstream Top 40 and Top 40 Tracks rankings, reaching numbers 11 and 19, respectively.[26][27][28] As of 2007, the song has sold 250,000 copies in the US.[29] Elsewhere, "I Wanna Be Bad charted on Australia's ARIA Singles Chart, reaching number 52 on the week of September 17, 2001.[30] Ford's following hit, "Did Ya' Understand That", did not experience success due to being released on September 11, 2001, and she has since become a one-hit wonder.[31]

Track listings

US and UK CD single[8][32]

  1. "I Wanna Be Bad" – 3:04
  2. "I Wanna Be Bad" (with rap and vocoder featuring Royce da 5'9") – 3:04
  3. "I Wanna Be Bad" (video)

US maxi-CD single[13]

  1. "I Wanna Be Bad" (Mike Rizzo club mix) – 6:39
  2. "I Wanna Be Bad" (Sal "Parm" slub mix) – 9:14
  3. "I Wanna Be Bad" (Mike Rizzo Hyper vocal mix) – 6:09
  4. "I Wanna Be Bad" (Sal "Parm" dub) – 7:14
  5. "I Wanna Be Bad" (Sal "Parm" radio edit) – 3:59

Australian CD single[33]

  1. "I Wanna Be Bad" (no rap version) – 3:04
  2. "I Wanna Be Bad" (album version with rap and vocoder) – 3:04
  3. "I Wanna Be Bad" (Plasmic Honey edit) – 3:59
  4. "I Wanna Be Bad" (Mike Rizzo radio edit) – 3:36
  5. "I Wanna Be Bad" (Plasmic Honey club mix) – 9:55
  6. "I Wanna Be Bad" (Mike Rizzo club mix) – 6:39

Credits and personnel

Credits are lifted from the US CD singles liner notes and the Willa Was Here booklet.[5][8][13]

Recording

Personnel

  • Willa Ford – writing, all vocals and vocal arrangements
  • Brian Kierulf – writing, instruments, programming, production, recording (Dojo)
  • Josh Schwartz – writing, additional guitar, production, recording (Dojo)
  • Royce da 5'9" – featured vocals
  • Stephen George – recording (Battery)
  • Rob Chiarelli – mixing
  • Tom Coyne – mastering

Charts

Release history

Release dates and formats for "I Wanna Be Bad"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) ID Ref(s).
United States April 24, 2001 — [9]
May 22, 2001 CD 85103-2 [8][12]
2001 Maxi-CD 85146-2 [13]
Australia August 20, 2001 CD 7567-85136-2 [14][33]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Rohwedder, Kristie (October 9, 2014). "This Music Video Has Donuts, Dancing, & Debauchery". Bustle. Archived from the original on August 12, 2021. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Wonsiewicz, Steve (May 18, 2001). "CHR Sees Great Things for Willa Ford's 'Bad'". Radio & Records. No. 1402. p. 31.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Kaplan, Ilana (July 25, 2017). "Willa Ford Explains Why She Left Music — And Teases a Possible Comeback". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 15, 2022. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Rosa, Christopher (August 2, 2019). "Willa Ford: From 'I Wanna Be Bad' to Scott Disick's Interior Designer". Glamour. Archived from the original on October 26, 2020. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 Willa Was Here (US CD album booklet). Willa Ford. Atlantic Records, Lava Records. 2001. 83437-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. 1 2 Taylor, Chuck (May 5, 2001). Taylor, Chuck (ed.). "Reviews & Previews: Singles". Billboard. Vol. 113, no. 18. p. 21.
  7. 1 2 Clott, Alicia (August 2001). "Spotlight on Willa Ford – up and coming singer – Brief Article". Girls' Life. Archived from the original on January 30, 2007. Retrieved August 5, 2021 – via findarticles.com.
  8. 1 2 3 4 I Wanna Be Bad (US CD single liner notes). Willa Ford. Atlantic Records, Lava Records. 2001. 85103-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. 1 2 "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1398. April 20, 2001. pp. 50, 58.
  10. 1 2 Carter, Kevin (February 16, 2001). "Willa: Built Ford Tough". Gavin Report. No. 2335. p. 53.
  11. 1 2 Real, Evan (August 5, 2019). "Willa Ford Talks Surviving 2000s Teen Pop Craze, Emerging as Top Interior Designer". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on August 22, 2021. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  12. 1 2 "I Wanna Be Bad". Amazon. Archived from the original on January 15, 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
  13. 1 2 3 4 I Wanna Be Bad (US maxi-CD single liner notes). Willa Ford. Atlantic Records, Lava Records. 2001. 85146-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. 1 2 "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 20th August 2001" (PDF). ARIA. August 20, 2001. p. 24. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 20, 2002. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  15. 1 2 Thomas Erlewine, Stephen. "Willa Ford: Willa Was Here". AllMusic. Archived from the original on May 11, 2019. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  16. ↑ Pietroluongo, Silvio (June 9, 2001). "Hot 100 Spotlight". Billboard. Vol. 113, no. 23. p. 89. ...and Ford's Willa Was Here are set for a July 17 release.
  17. ↑ Applebaum, Chris (director) (2001). I Wanna Be Bad (Music video). Lava Records, Atlantic Records. Event occurs at 2:42.
  18. ↑ Applebaum, Chris (director) (2001). I Wanna Be Bad (Music video). Lava Records, Atlantic Records. Event occurs at 0:41, 1:58, 2:19.
  19. ↑ "'I Wanna Be Bad' Singer Willa Ford Blames 9/11 for Ending Her Music Career". TooFab. July 27, 2017. Archived from the original on November 27, 2020. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
  20. ↑ "Pantene Pro-Voice 2001 Spokesgirl". pro-voice.com. 2001. Archived from the original on December 5, 2001. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  21. ↑ JEDowney (January 18, 2019). "Own It or Disown It: #331: Willa Ford, Willa Was Here". Earbuddy. Archived from the original on August 22, 2021. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  22. ↑ "The Hot 100: Week of June 9, 2001". Billboard. June 9, 2001. Archived from the original on August 12, 2021. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  23. ↑ "The Hot 100: Week of July 7, 2001". Billboard. July 7, 2001. Archived from the original on August 12, 2021. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  24. 1 2 3 "Willa Ford Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
  25. 1 2 "Billboard Top 100 – 2001". Billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  26. 1 2 "Willa Ford Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  27. 1 2 "Willa Ford Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
  28. 1 2 "Top 40 Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 113, no. 35. September 1, 2001. p. 73.
  29. ↑ "Willa Ford's Discography". willa-ford.org. Archived from the original on December 26, 2008. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  30. 1 2 "Issue 603" ARIA Top 100 Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  31. ↑ Johnson, Zach (July 27, 2017). "'I Wanna Be Bad' Singer Willa Ford Clears the Air: I Don't Blame My Fizzled Music Career on 9/11". E! Online. Archived from the original on August 12, 2021. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  32. ↑ I Wanna Be Bad (UK CD single liner notes). Willa Ford. Atlantic Records, Lava Records. 2001. 85103-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  33. 1 2 I Wanna Be Bad (Australian CD single liner notes). Willa Ford. Atlantic Records, Lava Records. 2001. 7567-85136-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  34. ↑ "Most-Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 2001". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 9, no. 51. December 21, 2001. p. 60.
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